O'Malley Repeats Budget Cuts Fiction
Speaking to reporters yesterday Governor O'Malley repeated the lie that he has cut the state budget.
O'Malley told the Annapolis press corps, "Ever since this recession hit we've been relying almost exclusively, with some exceptions, but almost exclusively on the cuts. That's why we've racked up $6.8 billion in cuts."
Except that under O'Malley the state budget has ballooned.
Did any reporter in the room bother to correct the governor on his patently untrue claim?Here’s how much O’Malley spent in his five budgets since he took office in 2007.
2008: 29.4 billion
2009: 30.7 billion
2010: 32.2 billion
2011. 32.0 billion
2012: 34.2 billion
That’s a 16.3 percent increase between fiscal years 2008 and 2012. Furthermore, O’Malley increased general fund spending from $13.2 billion in 2011 to to $14.6 billion in 2012 an increase of 11 percent—one of the largest in the nation.
O'Malley talks about a "balanced approach" ostensibly meaning cuts and tax increases. However, his record has been heavy on the taxes (and fees) and no cuts.
It's time the state house reporters call him out.
2 comments:
This one is easy to explain. When planning for next year O'Malley comes up with a pie-in-the-sky budget, say $40 Billion, then cuts it to $34 Billion and says he cut the budget. He's the best spin doctor in the history of Maryland politics.
Forget the reporters, why isn't the entire Republican caucus in both houses calling out the Governor? Why aren't republican office holders on the local level -- for example, in Norm Conway's home county -- calling bullshit on these claims?
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